Exhaust apparatus for roller-mills, &amp;c.



Patented June 27, I899. A. G. MATHER.

EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR ROLLER MILLS, 8L0.

(Application filed. Jan. 31, 1899.)

(NoMod eL) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 627,5l4.

Patented June 27, 4899. A. G. MATHER.

EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR ROLLER, MILLS, &c.

(Application filed Jan. 31, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N0 Model.)

W Ww- 3 so WITNESSES UNITED STATES 1 ATENT FFICE.

ALLAN G. MATIIER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE EDWARD P.ALLIS COMPANY, OF WISCONSIN.

EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR ROLLER-MILLS, 81,0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,514, dated June 27,1899.

Application filed January 31, 1899. fierial No. 703,979. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLAN G. MATHER, of Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee,and State of- Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement inExhaust Apparatus for either above or below the rolls, a woodenexhaust-trunk of large area and angular crosssection in order. to securethe precipitation of the dust carried by the air-current, a conveyer ordrag being commonly arranged in the bottom to remove the deposit, whichwould otherwise obstruct the passage of the air. This system is open tomany disadvantages, among which are the extreme difficulty of buildingtrunks sufficiently tight to prevent leakage, the difficulty of keepingthem tight in the presence of moisture deposited therein, which tends towarp them out of shape, the fact that they have to be of Very largearea, and consequently high cost, to permit the precipitation of thedust. They are also dangerous on account of the liability to fire. Theconveyer in the bottom is frequently inaccessible and difiiculttolubricate. Moreover, the large conveyer contains at all times aninflammable and explosive mixture of dust and air.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome these objectionsand to produce a conveyer system which shall be inexpensive inconstruction and tight under all ordinary conditions and in which theprecipitation of the dust is prevented without the employment ofconveyers or other internal mechanism.

To this end the invention consists, essentially, in a horizontalconveyer-trunk of circular cross-sectioncommunicating at one end with anexhaust-fan and also communicating at different points in its lengthwith the several mills or roller-machines by conductors which entertangentially. The suction-fan tends to draw the entire volume of air andvapor lengthwise through the conductor, while the inflowing current-sentering tangentially and at successive points in the length of thethrough, and, in short, to overcome thevery serious difficulties whichhave heretofore been encountered in connection with this class ofapparatus.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevationrepresenting a row or series of roller-mills with my exhaust mechanismconnected thereto. elevation. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through theconductor on theline 3 3 of Fig. 1.

A A represent a series of roller-mills, which may be of any ordinaryconstruction.

13 represents the exhaust. trunk or pipe, made of circular form,preferably of sheet metal, and arranged ina'horizontal or substantiallyhorizontal position above the series of mills.

O C are suction-pipes extending upward from the respective mills to thetrunk B and opening into the same at different points in its length, theconnection being at one side of the trunk, so that the current from thevertical pipes O enters the trunk tangentially, as

Fig. 2 is an end the trunk and that they shall be joined tangentiallythereto. The lowerends of the pipes O are preferably flattenedandwidened, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; but this is not essential.

hen the fan D is set in motion, it induces a current upward through theseveral mills and through the pipes G into the trunk 13 at differentpoints in its length. As the current is drawn forward lengthwise of thetrunk by the fan the inflowing currents discharged from the pipes O andentering tangentially have a tendency to rotate or whirl around withinthe interior of the trunk at right angles to its axis, and this motionis modified by the horizontal movement induced by the fan, so that as aresultant of the two forces the current pursues a helical course throughthe trunk toward the fan. It the trunk were of great length between theinlet and the fan, this spiral movement would obviously cease in advanceof the fan; but the successive impulses of the inflowing currents fromthe different mills maintain this motion throughout the length of thetrunk, sothat all moisture and all of the solid matters which aredeposited in the ordinary angular trunk are carried forward in myapparatus to the fan.

\Vhile I have shown the trunk of circular form in cross-section andwhile this form gives the best results and is the most cheaplyconstructed, it is to be understood that my invention will not be evadedor the desirable results wholly lost in the event of the trunk beingslightly modified in its sectional form.

It is manifest that my invention is applicable in connection with asingle mill and a short trunk, as well as with a long conductor and aseries of mills, and also that it is applicable not only in connectionwith rollermills, but with reducing apparatus of other forms or inconnection with other machinery from which the air and moisture are tobe withdrawn.

While I have represented the trunk of cylindrical form-that is, ofuniform diameter throughout its lengthit may of course be made ofdiminishing size as it recedes from the exhaust apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an apparatusfor removing dust and moisture from mills, &c., the combination of anexhaust apparatus, a horizontal trunk of substantially cylindrical form,and a series of inlet-pipes connected tangentially to the trunk atdifferent points in its length.

2. A combination of a series of mills, the circular horizontal trunk,thesuction-pipes extending from the respective mills and joinedtangentially to the trunk at diiferent points in its length, and asuction apparatus connected with one end of the latter.

3. The combination of a roller-mill ora like apparatus, a suction-pipeleading therefrom, a horizontal circular trunk to which said pipe istangentially connected, and an exhaust mechanism connecting with one endof said trunk.

4. In combination with a horizontal trunk or conductor of cylindricalform, means for producing a current longitudinally therethrough, and tangentially-arran ged pipes con nected to the trunk at diiferent points inits length and leading to a series of mills or similar dust-producingapparatus, whereby the dust-laden currents of air entering the trunk arecaused to act successively to produce and maintain a spiral movement ofthe air longitudinally through the trunk; whereby precipitation of thesolid matters therein is prevented.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 21st day of January,1899, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

ALLAN G. MATIIER.

Witnesses:

\V. D. GRAY, WM. BANNEN.

